Table 1 Main characteristics of the quantitative studies examining the factors influencing the public views on forensic DNA testing in the criminal field (n = 11)
Authors, year of publication | Country | Aim | Sample | Methods for data collection | Variables assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dundes, 2001 [50] | The USA | To assess whether the American public would support the collection of DNA samples from various segments of the population (from convicted violent offenders to all newborns) | Convenience sample 416 persons living in Maryland, aged 18 years or older | Questionnaire | Gender, age, level of education, race, living area (urban, suburban, rural), ever been frisked, attitude towards capital punishment, confidence in DNA technology, willingness to resort to any means necessary to curb crime |
Gamero et al., 2007 [51] | Spain | To analyze the opinion of the Spanish population with regard to the circumstances that would justify the inclusion of biological samples and DNA analyses of individuals in a genetic database | Representative sample 1654 participants, from 15 years of age upwards | Questionnaire | Gender, age, level of education, occupation a |
Gamero et al., 2008 [52] | Spain | To analyze the opinion of the Spanish population with regard to the institutions that should exercise custody and protection over the DNA profile databases | Representative sample 1654 participants, from 15 years of age upwards | Questionnaire | Gender, age, level of education, occupationa |
Curtis, 2009 [53] | New Zealand | To discuss the expectations and level of knowledge of the New Zealand public of the DNA database | Random sample (telephone directories) 100 participants, aged 16 years or older | Questionnaire | Gender, age, level of education, household income, ethnicity |
Curtis, 2014 [54] | New Zealand | To explore public understanding of the forensic use of DNA: sources of knowledge, understandings of processes, and attitudes towards DNA use | Random sample (telephone directories) 394 New Zealand residents, aged 16 years or older | Computer-assisted telephone (landline) questionnaire (closed and open questions) | Gender, age, level of education, household income, ethnicity, political preferences |
Machado and Silva, 2014 [11] | Portugal | To analyze the citizens’ willingness to donate voluntarily a sample for profiling and inclusion in the National Forensic DNA Database and the views underpinning such a decision | Judgment sample 628 participants, aged between 17 and 82 years | Online questionnaire (closed and open questions) | Gender, age, level of education, occupationb |
Machado and Silva, 2015 [55] | Portugal | To assess the influence of the professional group, education, and age on public perspectives on the risks and benefits of forensic DNA databases | Judgment sample 628 participants, aged between 17 and 82 years | Online questionnaire (closed and open questions) | Age, level of education, occupationc |
Zieger and Utz, 2015 [56] | Switzerland | To draw a broader picture of the public opinion on DNA databasing and to contribute to the debate about the possible future uses of genetics to reveal phenotypic characteristics | Convenience and snowball sample 284 German-speaking Swiss residents, aged between 18 to 72 years | Online questionnaire (closed and open questions) | Gender, age, level of education, nationality, occupationd |
Teodorovic et al., 2017 [47] | Serbia | To instigate a consultation with the Serbian public regarding their views on various aspects of the forensic DNA databank (custody, DNA sample and profile inclusion and retention criteria, ethical issues and concerns) | Convenience and stratified sample 558 participants, aged between 19 and 65 years | Questionnaire | Gender, age, level of education, occupatione |
Tozzo et al., 2017 [57] | Italy | To assess knowledge about biobanks, perception of the related benefits and risks, willingness to donate samples to a biobank for research purposes, attitude to having DNA profile included in a forensic DNA database and the underlying reasons | Homogeneous sample 959 students from Padua University, aged between 19 and 24 years | Questionnaire | Gender, type of university course (law, medicine, professional nursing) |
Guerrini et al., 2018 [43] | The USA | To assess public opinion on police access to genetic genealogy websites and customer information from DTC genetic testing companies | Crowdsourcing recruitmentf 1587 participants, aged between 18 and 88 years | Online questionnaire | Gender; age; race/ethnicity; household income; use of genealogy websites to research relatives; purchase of DTC genetic testing services; personal or relative’s victimization, arrest, or criminal conviction; personal or relative’s employment in law enforcement |